Southwest Airlines Technical Operations Center PHX
phoenix
Merit Award
Sent by: Hensel Phelps
Owner: Southwest Airlines Co.
Main design company/Civil/Structural/MEP: Burns and McDonnell
General contractor: Hensel Phelps
Electrical Engineer: CR engineers
With a three-bay 90,000 square meter aircraft maintenance hangar and 40,000 square meter ground support equipment and supply facilities, this $85 million project plays a critical role in expanding operations from Southwest Airlines at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Over nearly 200,000 hours of work, crews recorded zero lost time accidents and zero recordables due to innovative safety programs and strategies tailored to the project.
A CARES committee integrates craft staff with project superintendents for weekly site safety walks and meetings, but in this project, the committee included a craft worker from each business partner, starting with three members and growing to 18 at most. This committee played a critical role in maintaining an impeccable record by addressing and resolving safety issues on a weekly basis.
Hensel Phelps worked with airport operations and airport security to install a temporary air operations area barrier that kept the construction area in a “ground bubble,” away from ongoing airport operations, ensuring a safer working environment for artisans. This also reduced the risk of foreign object debris on the airfield.
With numerous trades working simultaneously in different areas, there was potential for workplace conflicts and safety hazards. Each business partner committed to specific areas of work and coordinated their activities with other companies, ensuring that all work was carried out safely and efficiently without interference from other trades.
